The council known as ALEC has faced growing scrutiny over the model legislation shared at its conferences, which critics say provides corporations and special interest groups a chance to exert influence on state laws.

A group of left-leaning organizations filed a lawsuit Wednesday in Maricopa County Superior Court alleging that Arizona lawmakers participating in the conference are violating the state's open meetings law.

A border activist facing charges of harboring immigrants tried to hide two Central American men at a camp in southern Arizona and signaled directions that would help them avoid a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint, a prosecutor said Wednesday during closing arguments at the activist’s second trial.